I james tomney



(No Model.) l

' J. TOMNEY.

ELECTRIC BURGILAE ALARM.

Patented Deo. 4, 1883,

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N. Pneus mmuumgupnw, wmingm n. c.

iiliwrren Strat-ns l JAMns froMNnY, or New ronx, N. Y.

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ELECTRIC euRcLAR-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION `forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,470, datedDecember 4, 1883.

Application filed February 5, 1883. (No model.)

To all wwm t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES TOMNEY, of New York, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Electric Burglar `Alarms, of which the following is aspecification.

This improvement relates to `those electric burglar-alarms which` areemployed to give an alarm at an office where watch is kept of anyattempt to gain access to any guarded structure.

rlhe improvement consists in the combination, in an electricburglar-alarm, of' a main circuit extending `from an office to a guardedstructure, means located at the office for giving an alarm there when achange occurs in the resistance ofthe circuit at the guarded structure,an electro-magnet and armature at the guarded structure, a main batterywhich is located at the office, and which is insufficient to cause theelectro-magnet to attract its armature, and yet is sufficient to hold itwhen attracted, and means with which the armature operates to controlthe passage of the electric current directly from the armature to theground. Vhen the electric circuit is shortcircuited by the opening of awindow or door, the shutting of the window or door will not restore thenormal circuit, for the reason that the main battery will not be able tocause the electro-magnet to attract its armature again. A prolongedalarm will therefore be given.

The improvement also consists in the combination of a main circuitextending from an oiiice to a guarded structure, an electro-magnet atthe office, an armature therefor capable of being held by theelectro-magnet against it when this electro-magnet is energized by Vtheelectric current of the main battery, an electro-magnet at the guardedstructure, which is incapable, when energized from the main battery, ofattracting its armature, but which is capable of' holding the armaturewhen attracted, and means with which this armature operates to controlthe passage of the electric current directly from this armature to` thebination of' a main circuit extending from an office to a guardedstructure, a local circuit a-t the office, provided with means forgiving an alarm, an electro-magnet at the office, an armature thereforcapable of being held by the electro-magnet against it when thiselectromagnet is energized by the main battery, an electro-magnet at theguarded structure, which is incapable, when energized from the mainbattery, of attracting its armature, but is capable of holding itsarmature when attracted, and means with which this armature operates tocontrol the passage of the electric current directly from this armatureto the ground or `through a resistance-coil to the ground.

The improvement also consists in the combination of a main circuitextending from an office to a guarded structure, devices located at theguarded structure for causing an alarm to be given at the ofce in casean attempt is made to gain access thereto, a galvanometer at the office,and means with which the galvanometer-needle, whensufficientlydeiiected,will

operate to shortcircuit the main circuit at the office, and cause thesounding of an alarm at the office. office and the guardedstructure,accidentally or intentionally done, will deflect 'the galvanometerneedlesufficiently to bring about this result.

The improvement also consists in the combination of a main circuitextending from an office to a guarded structure, an electro-magnetlocated at the office, and having an armature which it is normallyincapable of attracting, a galvanometer, also located at the office, andmeans with which the galvanometer-needle, when deiiected sufficiently,operates to shortcircuit the main circuit, and thereby reduce theresistance of the main circuitto such Van extent that the electro-magnetwill be able to attract the said armature.

The improvement also consists in the combination of' a main circuitextending from an .office to a guarded structure, an electro-mag- Ashort-circuiting between the IOO cated at the office, and means withwhich the v galvanometer-needle,when sufficiently deflectthe normalcircuit is maintained, a galvanometer also locatedat the office, andserving,when sufiiciently deflected by a change of resistance, toestablish a short circuit and reduce the resistance, so that the electromagnet or magnets can then attract both armatures, an electromagnet atthe guarded structure,incapable of attracting its armature, but capableof holding it when attracted, and means with which this armatureoperates to control the passage of the electric current directly fromthis arm ature to the ground, the resistance-coil, when introduced intothe circuit, serving to so weaken the electro magnet or magnets at theofiice as to prevent either armature acting in con- `junction therewithfrom being held attracted.

The improvement also consists in the combination, in an electricburglar-alar1n, of a main circuit extending from an ofiice to a guardedstructure, aresistance device forming a part of the alarm apparatus andlocated at the guarded structure means also located at the guardedstructure and serving, onthe opening of a window or door of the guardedstructure, to throw the said resistance device into the circuit at theguarded structure, and a device located at an office where watch iskept, and serving to give an alarm when the resistance device is thusthrown into the circuit at the `guarded structure.

The accompanying drawing represents an electric burgler-alarm embodyingmy improvement. To'conducc to a clear understanding of the same, I` havedrawn lines around all parts y'loca-'ted in the office and guardedstructure, and marked such lines, respectively, Office and 'G'uardedStructure. A'ltlrou'gh I have only` represented one guarded structure,Iwill premise that any number may `be `connected with a single ofce bymeans similar to those shown and described. l

A designates the main battery of the electric burglar-alarm. It islocated in the oflice, one pole being connected byawire, B, to anearthplate, C, and the other pole by a wire, B', to one end of the-`coils of electro magnets D.` From the lother end Aof the coils of theelectromagnet D a wire, B2, extends to the lcoils of a galvanometer, E.From the'c'oils of this gaivanometer a wire, B3, `extends to themetallic contact-piece a of a metallic switch'or key, F, and from 'thisswitch a wire, B, extends tothe guarded structure.

A designates a battery of greater electromotive force than the batteryA. One pole is connected by a wire, B5, to the earth-plate C, or to thewireB, leading thereto, and the other pole is connected by a wire, B,with a metallic contact-piece, c, of the switch F. Normally the switch Fis in contact with the contact-piece a, and the electric current fromthe battery A passes over the electric circuit of the burglar-alarm; butunder certain circumstances the switch F is shifted away from thecontact-piece c and against the contact-piece c, so as to disconnect thebattery A from `and connect the battery A to the electric circuit of theburglar-alarm.

' The electro-magnets D have two armatures, D D, operating inconjunction with them. As here shown, one of these armatures is arrangedat each end of the electro-magnets; but both may be arranged at the sameend and in different planes, if desirable. The armature D is retractedby a spring; but the armature Dl has no means for retracting it, and,owing to the position in which it is pivoted in place, has a tendency toremain in contact with the electro-magnets after being attracted. Thearmatures are so combined with the electro-magnets that the armature Dwill be attracted and held against the electro-magnets by anclectro-motiveforce less than that which is necessary to cause theelectro-magnets to attract the armature D2. These armatures mayseverally close a local circuit arranged in the office. This localcircuit consists of a wire, B5, leading from a battery, A, to a metallicswitch, G, which has two metallic contactpieces, b bi. From thecontact-pieceb a wire, B, extends to a contact-piece, c, with which thearmature D of the electro-magnets D makes contact when released by theelectromagnets and retracted therefrom. From thc contact-piece 1r awire, B7, extends to a contact-piece, c, with which the armature D2 ofthe'electro-magnet-s D makes contact when the said electro-magnetsattract it. A wire, BS, connected with both armatures D D2, extendsthence to an electro-magnetic bell, H, and thence to the battery A2. Itwill be readily seen that upon a certain decrease of theenergy of theelectro-magnets D the armature D will be retracted, so as to close thelocal circ-uit, and that upon a certain increase of the energy 'of theelectro-magnets the armature D2 will close the local circuit, andthereafter retain it closed until retracted by hand. An alarm will besounded by the electro-magnetic bell H in either case. Preferably thiswill be a continuously-ringing bell. Normally the switch lGr is incontact with both the contact-pieces b b2.

Bo designates a wire leading from the wire B3 to the pivot of the needleof the galvanometer E.

B10 designates a wire leading from a contactpiece, d, located near thegalvanometer-needle, to the wire B5 or to the wire B, whereby thebattery A is connected with the earth-plate C.

IOO

IIO

metallic contact-piecese c e2.

Under certain circumstances the galvanom eter-needle is vibrated againstthis contactpiece d, and thereupon shunts the electric current.

The wire Blentcring the guarded structure, is connected to a metallicswitch, I I. This switch has two arms, I I,which are connected by aninsulated bar, Il, so as to operate in unison. The arms operate inconjunction with The wire Btis connected to the arm I of the switch.Vhen the switch is set for the night, the arm I will impinge against thecontact-piece e. A wire, B, leads from the contactpiece c to the windowsand doors to be protected. As here shown, it extends to one of a pair ofmetallic .contact -pieces, f, applied to a window, J.

From this contact-piece awire, Bm, extends to the contact-piece e', andas the arm I of the switch will, when the switch is set for the night,impinge against this contact-piece e', the circuitwill be continued to aiine wire, B13, extending through a partition, l?. Thence a wire, B,extends to the coils oi' electromagnets K. Thence a wire, B15, extendsto ametallic circuit-breaking key, L. From this circuit-breaking key awire, Bl, extends to the otherof the contactpieces f of the window J.Thence a wire, B, extends to a second fine wire, BS, passing through thepartition P, and thence a wire, Bl", extends to the armature of theelectromagnets K. The armature of these electromagnets,when attracted bythe electromagnets, impinges against a contact-piece, g', and whenretracted by its spring from the electro-magnets impinges against astop, g2, of insulating material. A wire, B2", leads from thecontact-piece g to an earth-plate, C. A resistance-coil, M, isinterposed between the wires Bw and B20. When the armature of theelectro-magnets K is retracted from the contact-piece (/,the electriccurrent from the battery passes from the wires B1'J to theresistancecoilM, and thence along the wire Bzo to the ground. Theelectro-magnets K will preferably be of high resi stance-say, for instance, one hundred ohms.

It will be observed that the arm I of the switch I I is provided with aprojection, I, extending beyond its pivot. This projection is made ofinsulating material, and constitutes a tappet which acts upon anextension, h, of the armature of the electro-magnets K, and when thearms of the switch are adjusted to the left shift-s the armature so thatit will impinge against the contact-piece g.

The main battery A is not capable of energizing the electro-magnets Ksufliciently to enable them to attract their armature; hencethe batteryA has to be switched on to enable these electro-magnets to attract theirarmature. Vhen the armature is once attracted by the` electro magnets,the main battery will, however, cause the electromagnets to hold it. Thecontact-piece c`l is connected by a wire, B2?, with the wire Bi.

It will be borne in mind that the switch I I is adjusted so that its armI will impinge against the contact-piece e, and its arm I will impingeagainst the contact-piece e during the'wnight, and at other times whenthe inmates of the guarded structure are absent from the structure, andthen the windows and doors, as well as the partitions, skylights, andother devices through which fine wiring is extended, are protected.During the time that the inmates desire to use the doors and windows theswitch I I is adjusted so that its arm I will impinge against thecontact-piece e2 and its arm I will be out oi' contact with thecontactpieces c e', and then protection is afforded to the partitionsand other articles th rough which fine wiring is run only.

I will now proceed to describe the operatio of the burglar-alarm:

Yhen the inmates of the guarded structure are about to leave it, theyclose all the doors and windows which are to be in circuit, and shiftthe switohI I so that itsarm I will impinge against the contact-piece eand the arm They then signal to the watchman at the office by shiftingthe circuit-breaking key L. so as to break the circuit between the wiresB15 and Bm. As soon as they have left the guarded structure, thewatchman at the o'iice switches the battery A onto the electric circuitfor an instant, thereby causing the electro-magnets K to attract theirarmature to them. Afterward the main battery A causes theelectro-magnets to hold the armature. Normally the armature D of theelectro-magnets D will be attracted to these electro1nagnets, and thearmature D2 will be out of contact with the electromagnets. Tlieelectric current from the battery A will `pass over the wire B to theelec-` tro-magnets D, thence along the wire B2 to the galvanometer E,thence along the Wire B3 to the switch or key F, and thence along thewire B to the arm I of the switch I I. From this arm of the switch itpasses along vthe wire Bu to one of the contact-pieces fof the window Jthence along the wire B12, the contact-piece c', and the arm I oftheswitch I I, to the ne wire B13 of the partition P. From the wire B13 itpasses along the wire B to the electromagnets K; thence along the wireB15, key L, and wire B, to the other contact-piece j". Thence it passesalong the wire BIT to the second wire, B18, of the partition I. Fromthere it proceeds along the wire B1D to the armature of theelectro-magnets K, and thence it passes along the contact-piece g' andthe wire B20 to the earth-plate C. If the window J should be opened, thecontact-pieces f would be caused to impinge, and the electric current`would then pass from the wire B, through these contactpieces, to thewire BU; thence along the wire B1S to the wire B, the electromagnets Kbeing then out of the circuit. Ow-

. .90 I will impinge against the contact-piece c.

ing to the demagnetization of these electromagnets, their armature isretracted against` .on the battery A.

it lescano the stop g2, and the electric circuit then is broken betweenthe armature andthe contactpiece g. The electric current th enpassesfrom the wire Bw, through the resistance-coil M, to the wire B20, andthence to the ground. Even if the windowwere immediately closed, thecircuit would remain as thus described, because the main battery A wouldbe unable to cause the electro-magnets to attract their ar- :mature tothem and restore the normal circuit. It would be just the same if theelectric circuit had been broken and reunited. The resistance-coil M,when introduced into the circuit, so weakens the electro-magnets D thatthe armature D thereof is retracted, closes the local circuit, andcauses the electro-magnetic bell H to sound an alarm.

The position of the galvanomcter needle will indicate whether the alarmhas .been caused by the opening of a door, a window, or the opening ofthe main circuit. The normal circuit may be restored, providing thewindow has been closed or the break repaired at the guarded structure,by momentarily switching If a short circuit should be made outside theguarded structure, even if only temporarily, the galvanometer-needlewould be deilectechand, impinging against the contact-piece d, it wouldcomplete a short circuit through the wire B10 to the wire B5 5 thence tothe battery A; thence along the wire B, the electro-magnets D, and thewire B2, to the galvanometer. Owing to the resistance tlius cut out ofthe circuit, the electro-magnets D will become energized sufficiently toattract their armature D, whereupon the local circuit will be closed andthe electro magnetic bell H rung. The armature D`l will beheld by theelectromagnets D until released by the watchman at the office, thusproducing a continuous alarm. This is a valuable feature of myimprovement, as it increases the sensitiveness of the alarm. Forinstance, a person desirous of effecting an entrance into the guardedstructure might connect the wire B'L with the ground between the officeand the guarded structure, and might happen to introduce a resistance sonearly approximating that of the guarded structure that the effect uponthe electro-magnets D would be insufficient to cause the electro magnetseitherto release the armature Dl orto attract the armature Dt, and'yetit would cause a deection of the galvanometer-needle far enough for `itto establish the short circuit, eut out resistance, and enable theelectro-magnets to attract the armature D2 and sound an alarm.

, It will be remembered that during the day, while the inmates of theguarded structure desire to use the doors and windows, the switch I I isshifted so that its arm I will impinge against the contact-piece c. Thiscauses the shifting of the armature of the electro-magnet K, so that itwill impinge against the contactpiece g. Then the electric currentpasses from the arm I ofthe switch along the wires B22, B13, and B14 5thence through the coils of the electromagnets K, along the wire B15,the key L, and the wires B1, B, B18, and B19, to the armature ofthe saidelectro-magnets, to the contact-piece g, and thence along thc wire B20to the earthplate C. Should the wire B13 of the partition then beruptured and the electric circuit thereby broken, the armature D of theelectro-magnets D would be retracted, thereby effecting the sounding ofan alarm. The wire could then be repaired before the inmates of thestructure leave it.

The object of providing the arm I of the switch I I with the tappet I3is to cause the switch to hold the armature of the electromagnets Kagainst the contact-piece g whenever the switch is adjusted for theday-or, in other words, with its arm I against the contact-piece e2.This is advantageous, because it enables the watchman at the office,when he receives a signal that the guarded structure is to be closed, todetermine whether the switch I I has been adjusted from the day-circuitto the night-circuit. There is so little difference between theresistance of the day and night circuits that otherwise the instrumentat the office might not indicate sufficient change to ydepressing thekey L. If the switch I I is set for the night, the breaking of thecircuit in this manner, and the consequent demagnctization of theelectro-magnets K,will cause the circuit to pass from the wire B19through the resistance-coil M, and thence along the wire B20 to theground. If the switch I I were not shifted to establish thenight-circuit, the resistance-coil would not be brought into the circuitby the operation of the key L. The effect on the galvanometer in eithercase would indicate clearly to the watchman whether the switch I I hadbeen properly adjusted for the night.

It is obvious that by my improvement I provide for ascertaining whetheran alarm proceeds from a cause inside or outside the guarded structure.

I desire to remark that in lieu of the electro-magnets D two separateelectro-magnets, one having the armature D and the other having thearmature D2, may be used.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuitextending from an office to aguarded structure, means located at theoffice for giving an alarm there when a change occurs in the resistanceof the circuit at the guarded structure, an electro-magnet and armatureat the guarded structure, a main 4battery which is located at theofiice, and which is insufficient to cause the electro-magnet to attractits armature, and yet is suffi- IOO IIO

IIS A the resistance of the main circuit to such au cient to hold itWhen attracted, and means] extent that the electro-mafrnet will be ableto with which the armature operates to control the passage of theelectric current directly from Athe armature to the' ground or through aresistance-coil to the ground, substantially as specified. A

2. ln an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuitextending from an office to a guarded structure, an electro-magnet atthe office, an armature therefor capable of being held by theelectro-magnet against it when this electro-magnet is energized by theelectric current of the. main battery, an ele-ctro-magnet at the guardedstrueture,which is incapable, when energized from the main battery, ofattracting its armature, but which iscapable of holding the armaturewhen attracted, and means with which this arma-ture operates to controlthe passage of the electric current directly from this armature to theground or through a resistance-coil to the ground, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

3. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuitextending from an office to a guarded structure, a local circuit at theoffice, provided With means for giving an alarm, an electro-magnet atthe ofce, an ar mature therefor capable of being held by theelectro-magnet against it When this electromagnet is energized by themain battery, an electro-magnet at the guarded structure, which `isincapable, when energized from the main battery, of attracting itsarmature,V but is capable of holding its armature when attracted, andmeans with which this armature operates to control the passage of theelectric current directly from this armature to the ground or through aresistance-coil to the ground, substantially as specified.

4. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuitextending from an office to a guarded structure, devices located at 'theguarded structure for causing an alarm to be given at the office in caseau attempt is made to gain access thereto, a galvanometer at the office;and means with which the galvanometer-needle, when sufficientlydefiected, will operate t0 short-circuit the main circuit at the officeand causethe sounding of an alarm at the office, substantially asspecified.

5. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of' a main circuitextending from an office to a guarded structure, an electro-magnetlocated at the office, and having an armature which it is normallyincapable of attracting, a galvanometer, also located at the office, andmeans with which the galvanometer-needle, `when deflected sufficiently,operates to shortcircuit the main circuit, and thereby reduce attractthe said armature, sLbst-antially as speci- 6. In an electricburglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuit extending from an ofceto a guarded structure, an electro-magnet located at the office, andhaving an armature Which it is normally incapable of attract-` ing, alocal circuit which can be closed by the said armature, and is providedwith a device for giving an alarm, a galvanometer, also located at theoffice, and means With which the galvanometer-needle, when sufficientlydeflected., operates to short-circuit the main circuit, and therebyreduce the resistance of the main circuit, so that the electro-magnetcan attract the said armature, substantially as specied.

7. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuitextending from an office to a guarded structure, an electro magnet ormagnets located in the office, and having armatures, one of which theelectro magnet or magnets, When energized from the main battery, canattraet,but not the other, While the normal circuit is maintained, agalvanometer, also located at the office, and serving, when sufficientlydeiiected by a change of resistance,

to establish a short -circuit and reduce the resistance, so that theelectro magnet or magnets can thenV attract both armatures, anelectromagnet at the guarded structure, incapable of attracting itsarmature, but capable of holding it when attracted, and means with whichthis armature operates to control the passage of the 'electric currentdirectly from this armature to the ground or through a resistance-coilto the ground, the resistancecoil ,when introduced into the circuit,serving to so weaken the electro magnet or magnets at the oiiice as toprevent either armature operating in conj unction therewith from beingheld attracted, substantially as specified.

S. In an electric burglar-alarm, the co1nbination of a main circuitextending from an office to a guarded structure, a resistance deviceforining a part of the Yalarm apparatus and located at the guardedstructure, means also located at the guarded structure and serving, onthe opening of awindow or door of the guarded structure, to throw saidresistance device into the circuit at the guarded structure, and adevice located at an office Where Watch is kept, and serving to give analarm When the resistance device is thus thrown into the circuit at theguarded structure, substantially as specified.

JAS. TOMNEY.

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